Light-producing device



17, 1946- H. G. HILLARD ET AL LIGHT PRODUCING 13E-VICE Filed April 9, 1945 v a saw, my www New |IY \.|...ll1, t mm.

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 17, 1946 f i UNITED LIGHT-PRODUCING DEVICE Harry G. Hllard and Clinton J. Jaeger, Sr., Bayonne, N. J.

Application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,410

(o1. verr-28) Claims.

smoke or the like, are awkward and cumbersomev to use and are rather expensive in operation. It is the main object, of our invention, therefore, to provide an apparatus for producing light of sufficient intensity to permit the taking of photographs thereby which is simple to construct and operate, is composed of inexpensive parts, and long lasting in use.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a device for producing light of sufficient intensity to permit the taking of photographs thereby which comprises means for urging a plurality of pyrophoric elements against a Scored surface in combination with means for causing relative movement between the scored member and thepyrophoric elements.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a device for producing light of sufficient intensity to permit the taking of photographs thereby which comprises a member containing a number of pyrophoric elements, means to spring urge these elements into engagements with a scored member, means to rotate the scored member against the pyrophoric elements, and means to tension the scored member for rotation.

Other and further objectives of my invention will in part be pointed out hereinbelow in connection with the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, while still other objects will be obvious therefrom.

In the drawing annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away to show details of internal construction, and partly in section, of one form of device constructed according to and embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of a detail showing the roller locking mechanism in a difierent position from that illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, in the several views of which similar parts will be designated by similar reference numerals, our device comprises a support or handle member Ill, of any suitable size and shape as to permit its attachment to a camera (not shown) on which support I0 we mount a Y-bracket I2 having a pair of outwardly diverging arms I4, I6, terminating in a pair of upstanding parallel arms I8, 29. Between arms I8, and near the bottom thereof, we dispose a cross-bar 22 in which we dispose a plurality of pyrophoric elements 24, 24. A number oi vertically extending openings 26, 26 are formed as by coring, boring or otherwise, through bar 22, the bottom margins of which openings 26, 25 are threaded to receive a threaded plug 2S. After the pyrophoric elements 24, 24, flint or otherwise, are inserted in each of openings 25, 2E, a normally expanding spring` 32 is positioned under each element 24 and the plug 28 threaded into each opening, this arrangement normally and resiliently urging the pyrophoric elements 24, 24 upwardly. Bar 22 is fixed between bracket arms I8, 20 against any rotation.

Above bar 22, and parallel therewith, we dispose a hollow cylindrical roller 40, the surface of which is scored or otherwise roughened. We provide an elongated rod 42 which passes through aligned openings in arms I8, 20 and through aligned openings in the reduced ends of roller 40, to maintain said roller 4B in slightly spaced, parallel relation above the'pyrophoric element containing bar 22, and we provide means to cause rotation of the roller with respect to the fixed pyrophoric elements, as desired. These means comprise a large coiledV spring 44 which is disposed withinroller 40 and surrounds rod 42, one

end 44a of which spring 44 is secured to rod 42 to rotate therewith, and the other end 44h of which spring 44 is secured to roller 4I! at the opposite end thereof. Rod 42 is provided with a projecting portion or extension 56 beyond arm 2li, and has a key or handle 50, by actuation of which key or handle rod 42 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to build up tension in spring 44.

A pin 52 is provided projecting outwardly fr0-m arm 2l), which pin is adapted to be engaged by a ratcheted 'disc 60 slidably disposed on shaft extension 55. A collar 54 is iixed on shaft 56 and between this collar 54 and disc 5D a coil spring 58 is provided which normally urges disc 60 into engagement with pin 52. Extension 56 is square or otherwise shaped in cross section to permit disc B0 to slide laterally therealong and to prevent said disc 60 from rotating thereabout.

Teeth 62, 62 on disc 60 are so biased as to permit rod 42, 56 to be turned counterclockwisely while preventing same from turning in a `clockwise direction.

We also provide means to lock roller 4D against rotation while tension is being built up in coil spring 44 by rotation of rod 42, 56, these means 3 comprising an angulated lever 86 pivoted at 82 to a stud 84 projecting 'outwardly from arm I4. A spring 85 isA provided, trappedY between lever arm 36 and' Y-arm I3 normally` urging lever arm 86 outwardly and the other lever' arm 88 inwardly. A spider 9U is provided, linked to the 1 end of lever arm 88, said spider 90 having aA plu- Y rality of finger pieces 92, 92 projectingiriward-lyf therefrom and through suitableopeningg., S3; in Y-arni I8, finger pieces 92, 92"normally`reac ing towards roller under the urging of spring. 85, one of ngers 92 being engag'edlbyl a` pin\94 projecting outwardly and laterally from` roller 40 (see Fig. l). A string, wire or the like, asv 96, may bel secured tothe free end of leverarmA 85, and led vdownto a point adjacent handley ormountnlr, and secured to'trig'ger 98: As shaft orro'd 42 is rotated,- end Hoof `Vspring llllV is carriedarouiidwith it, the other end wg'beingneld by the locking of ro-ller 453.

'-With the parts in theppsition shown in Fig. l, andiv roller 'lilY lockedV against rotation, counterclockwise rotation offkeyorvhandle 541,1` causes rotationfof shaft 4Z and tensioning of spring 44. When trigger S8is pressedinwardlytowards handief lo, operating' lever stand-spidersa the roher will be releasedand the parts willlassume the positions shown in Fig. 2, ngers 92,j 92; being retracted and drawn out of engagement Vwith pin Sli;- permitting roller lilto be rotatednbyytheefX- :J

pnsionlrotation of spring'l,l and striking sparks from theV engagement of pyrophoric elements` 2li; 24, against the scored-surfacejof roller 4Q, pro ducing the necessary amount of light.A

"suitable, conventionalL reflector may-be provided (not shown) to cause the light so generated f to'bedirectedl in any' direction desired,- andthe number of py'ropho-ric elements must be such as to" provide lightv of? suihcintjin'tensity to permit th taking orphotograpns.' 'Itwiii-bejunderstooo thatfthe action ofthe camera shutter maybe evasil synchronized-with the lightproduction, for thedurationof the light is 'easily controllable by means 'of-'trigger 98, 'an'djit ispossibleV with mydvice to fcor'itinue the light at peak intensity during th opening aridfclosin'g ofthe shutter, thereby avoiding the necessity for `:precise syncli-'ro'niza-` non of the'eamera shutter with the split Ygezond peaktintensity of light producedasby magnesiumfilings, flashbulbs, etc.Y As a matter of fact, withm-y device itispossibleto avoidganyoperative connection whatsoever tothe camera shutter;`V The lightfcan. be created by disengagement. dipinti fromng'erfpieces 92, 92and prolongedlmtilafter., the camerashutter `is actuated, when! the Nrotation ofroller. 1lltlfniay' be stopped. and the ilight production. ended. f

Our device is composed of easily manufactured.` parts, and its assembly Lcalls. forno .special skill or experience.. rJ'Jhe. pyrophoric elements may beusedtime andtime againltheir replacementbee ing easily and l :cheaply accomplished) and. the.. dyicewill be,.,veryinexpensive to opera-te.H

Havinginow,described our invention, what Y.we

claiIri-anddesre to secureby Letters .Patentisil vl Adevice pf, the ,characterdescribed comprisel iris ai pair or straight ,elOneatecl,A axially alignem and; .Slightly spaced apart 111er11-l0e1ss,A` meansato. Support Sadmembersn said relation,` meer the. members .beine ,Xad .and the; other thereofbeing rotatable-,f the Xed member'-havineeagplurality;

of pyrophoric elements disposed therewithn and having means to resilently urge said elements against the rotatable member.V whereby upon rotation of thev latter agsloower;y of sparks will be produced from between'the two members concentrated in a straight path.

"2. A device of the character described comprising a,- supporting bracket having a, pair of spacedarms, apairof axially aligned and spacedapart straight 'members disposed between the spaced arms, one of the members being xed and the other/being rotatable, one of the members havingV a plurality of pyrophoric elements disposed therewithin and having means to resilently urge said elements against the other of said members.'v means lto tension the rotatablemember for rotation, andrmeans to hold' the rotatablel member against rotation during thetensioningyand means'. to release the holding means togpermfit the rotatable'member to rotate andl strike" a shower ofy sparks from thev pyrophoricv elements, said shower falling on one side of the device in the direction of rotation and concentrated'- in a straight path. Y

3 3 A device of the character described'com-- prising a support bracket having a pair of straightv axiallyaligned and'spaced-apart membersifdisposed between thebracketarms, one of themembersv being xed against rotation and;V the other comprising a rotatable cylinder, the iixed mem-fberg-having a: plurality of pyrophoric elements disposed therewithin and having means to kresiliently urge said elementsl against the cylinder; means comprising in part a ,rotatableA shaft 'to vtension the Ycylinder for rotation, means to hjold the, cyl-1 inder against rotationA during7 the tensioning. meansto release the holding meansto permitrotation of the cylinder, and means to lhold'the shaft against rotation during rotation of the cyl? inder, and means to release theA holding means: to permit the rotatablel member, to' rotate and strike a shower of sparks from the pyrophoric elements, said shower falling on one side of the" device in the direction of rotation andfconcen-v tratedin a straight path.

4. Adevice ofthe4 character described for creatingY a shower of sparks concentrated" in a;` straight path comprisinga-support bracket have in-g a-Qpai-r -of spaced arms, a iirst 'pin on one arm:l projecting outwardly therefrom,r a,- second-pin om the other armprojecting outwardlytherefrorm a-straight rodv disposed between uthe arms anda; cylinder disposed between ther arms in axially) alignedand spaced relation-to the rod, a plurality OfpyrOphOric'eIements disposed within the-rodi andi means .f to resilently urge thea elementst against the cylinder, means to mount the cylinder:

as aforesaid compr-isingashaft journalledinthee.

bracket arms and' extending-beyondone thereof;

means on the extension to engage the second pin permitting rotation ofthe vextension and. ofthe shaftim one. direction, and means on the cylinder engaging-.the first .ofsaid pins to prevent rotation ofithe cylinder.

5. A device as in claim 4, in which the meanstohold thecylinder comprise,4 in part, a plurality o-flingers extending throughthe bracket arm,.onez

of which lingers is engageable by the rst referred:y

topin.

HARRY G. HILLARD.; CLINTON` J .i JAEGER, SRA. 

